January 16, 2012

Kyi Thomas of Sheldon High School has been recruited before, on his own campus, to play football, and now football will provide a path for the senior athletic marvel.

Thomas took a recruiting trip to Sacramento State over the weekend and today accepted a scholarsip offer to play receiver for the Hornets, giving the program a verbal commitment.

Thomas said he has to thank his prep football coach, Josh Crabtree, who would sit and marvel as the public address announcer for Huskies basketball games in recent years, agape as Thomas dominated his craft. Crabtree convinced the 6-foot-4 wing to give football a try, and when college football recruiters saw him working out in basketball, they wondered, "Who the heck is that?"

Thomas played receiver for Sheldon this past fall, catching 638 yards worth of passes and five touchdowns in a still-learning season. His 44-inch vertical leap are among his many athletic gifts.

Sac State this weekend also got a verbal commitment from Elk Grove High running back Deon Ransom, making for two major gems.

The Huskies sent defensive tackle Marcus Paige-Allen to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo last season (Crabtree visited him over the weekend on the Central Coast) and tight end Mansel Simmons to Washington State.

About the Prep blog

Bee staff writers Joe Davidson and Bill Paterson provide news, analysis and insight on the area high school sports scene in their Prep Blog. Have a question to ask them? Send them an email any time at jdavidson@sacbee.com or bpaterson@sacbee.com.